Electric semaphore signaling mechanism.



PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

B. 0. WAGNER. ELECTRIC SEMAPHORE SIGNALING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 12, 1903.

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PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

B. 0. WAGNER. ELEGTRIG SEMAPHORE SIGNALING MECHANISM.

APPLIUATI ON FILED MAY 12, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 7, 1904..

PATENT OFFICE.

BRUNO OTTO WAGNER, OF AMSTERDAM, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNOR To THE YORK.

ELECTRIC SEMAPIHORE SIGNALING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 762,105, dated June 7, 1904. Application filed May 12, 1903. Serial No. 156,739. (No model.)

To all whom it may cancer-71L.-

Be it known that I, BRUNO Or'ro WAGNER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Electric Semaphore Signaling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to railway signaling systems, and more particularly to that class of signaling means actuated under magneto-electric devices; and my said invention primarily seeks to provide a simple, economically-constructed, and reliable magnetoelectric semaphore mechanism so designed to permit an operator setting a distant signal to any required position.

In its generic nature my present invention comprehends a visual or other signal-for example, a vibrating semaphore-blade, a reversibly shiftable arm for actuating said blade in its reverse directions, an electric motor device for shifting the said actuating-arm, an alarm electrically energized from the driving-circuit generated at the tower or operators station arranged to set into action by circuit-closing devices adapted to be engaged by the semaphore-blade as it reaches the limit of its vibratory movements in opposite directions.

In its more complete nature my invention includes a reversing-switch in the generatorcircuit, oppositely-disposed and alternatelyacting electromagnets, which are to be placed in alternateaction by the shifting of the reversing-switch, whereby to provide for reverse rotations of the motor for the semaphore-blade-actuating arm.

Again, my invention embodies a special construction of motor devices including means for transmitting an oscillatory motion to the blade-actuating arm and a vibratory circuitcloser'for controlling the alarm at the signal tower or house, and in its more subordinate features my invention consists in certaindetails of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully explained, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a diagrammatic view lllustrating the general arrangement of my signal mechanism. Fig. 2 is a'vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, of a simple type of magneto-generator forming a part of my complete system. Fig. 4 is a face view of the motor-casing, the motor-controlled mechanism, and the motor looking in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isaside elevation of the semaphore-pole with the semaphore-blade and the actuating means mounted thereon.

In the practical arrangement of my invention the motor devices are mounted in a weatherproof metallic casing fixedly attached to the signal-pole, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and the said. motor devices comprise apermanent magnet-field A, between the arms of which is mounted the oscillatory armature B of the conventional I shape, the ends of the windings of which are connected with two insulated collector-rings, with which engage the contact springs or brushes C C, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

On one end of the armature-shaft is fixedly mounted an arm T, on the opposite ends of which are pivotally mounted pawls D E, which are held in engagement with a ratchet-Wheel F by the springs S S as clearly shown in Fig. 4:, and the said arm T-is normally returned to position (shown in Fig. 4) by a spring R.

The oscillatory movement of the armature B and arm T fixedly mounted on the shaft thereof is limited by an arm 6, connected to and movable with the arm T and provided with a heel 25, held to vibrate between adj ustable stop-screws t 25 as clearly shown in Fig. 4:.

The ratchet-Wheel F is fixedly mounted on the outer end of a shaft f, which is mounted in an end bearing f in a frame portion f and the said shaft f carries a bevel-gear G at its inner end adapted to cooperate with the reversing-gear devices, which include the 0ppositely-disposed gears H I, rotatable with and slidable on a shaft U, disposed at right angles to the shaft f.

W indicates a box or sleeve endwise slidable on and keyed to the shaft F to rotate therewith, and the said sleeve together with the gears H I are so arranged that either of the gears H I can be readily thrown into or out of mesh with the drive-gear G.

An arm K is carried by the sleeve WV to turn therewith, and it is provided to engage with a pair of oppositely-disposed contacting members L M, (preferably mercury contacts) mounted on the frame portion f in such manner that the arm in one direction engages with the contact M, and when turned in a reverse direction it engages the contact L when a half-circle of movement is made.

On each end of the boxes Wis fixed an iron disk 0 Q, which rotate with the sleeve or boxes IV and the gears I and H and form, as it were, armature-pieces for a pair of electromagnets P P located in the generator-circuit, as clearly shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

The crank-arm V is mounted on the outer end of the shaft F,to which connects the hollow end of a pitman 10, the upper end of which joins with a semaphore-blade 12, which carries the usual signal-lamp 13 at its inner end, as shown.

15 designates a magneto-generator of any approved type which is located in the tower or signal station and actuated by hand, foot, or mechanical power, a crank-wheel 16being shown belted with the armature 17 of the generator.

The operation of my semaphore mechanism is explained as follows: Assuming there is a current flowing through the magnet P by reason of its being thereby energized, it attracts the disk O, and thereby shifts the gear devices to bring the gear I in mesh with the drive-gear G, which then actuates the crankarm V in one direction to swing the semaphore-blade to one position, it being understood that should the current be flowing through the magnet P and the other magnet P be deenergized the disk Qwould be moved and the gears shifted to bring the gear Hinto mesh with the gear G and by reason thereof a reverse motion imparted to crank V and the semaphore -blade. The highest and lowest positions of the semaphore-blade are indicated by an alarm-bell 20, located within or adja cent to the operators signal tower or box. This bell is actuated from a supplemental circuit 21 in connection with the main generatorcircuit, and the said supplemental circuit is brought into an active energy by the sweep movements of the member K, which movements are so timed with respect to the up-anddown movements of the semaphore-blade as to alternately close either of the contacts L M, which control the bell-circuit, just prior to the finish of the movement of the semaphore-blade in either direction.

Since the bell indicates the proper shifting of the signal or semaphore-blade, the signalman can readily break the generator-circuit by shifting the switch 25 (diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 1) to either stop the motion of the armature-in the motor B or change the rotation thereof.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed the complete construction, the operation, and the advantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I am aware that magneto actuated motor devices for semaphore systems have heretofore been provided in which is included a rotary armature and reversely-rotatable signalcarrying shaft and ratchet-and-pawl devices for connecting the said shaft with the motorshaft have heretofore been provided, and I therefore do not make claim for such generic arrangement of parts. I

My invention, so far as I know, differentiates from whathas heretofore been provided in the peculiar cooperative arrangement of the motor, the gear devices controlled thereby, and especially the means for actuating in the alarm-circuit at the completion of the movement of the semaphore-blade in either direction, and the peculiar construction and arrangement of the gear-shifting magnets and the motor-actuated drive-gear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway signaling apparatus of the character described, a reversible rotatable shaft, a visual signal combined therewith and reversibly movable under the reversed motions of the shaft, electromagnetically-shiftable gears for actuating the shaft, a distant magneto-generator, an alarm mechanism, a motor, conductors connected with the alarm mechanism, the motor, and the electro gearshifting magnets, circuit-closers for closing the alarm-circuit at predetermined times, a switch in the generator-circuit for permitting current to flow through said gearshifting magnets at predetermined times, and means actuated by the motor for engaging the circuit-closers at predetermined times.

2. In a railway signaling apparatus of the character described; a swinging signal-arm, an attached electric motor, having an armature, for operating the same, a distant magnetogenerator also having an armature, a conductor connecting one terminal of the magneto-generator armature to one terminal of the motor-armature, a shifting-gear mechanism, a reversibly-rotatable shaft connected with the swinging arm and actuated by the shifting-gear mechanism, an electromagneticallyactuated means for adjusting the gear mechanism and including a pair of electromagnets, said magnets having one terminal connected ism cooperatively joined with the shaft, an

electric magneto means for actuating the shiftlng mechanism, including a palr' of electromagnets and a distant magneto-generator and.

conductors for each of the electromagnets, a switch in circuit with the generator for shunting the current through the said magnet-conductors, an electromotor coupled with the shiftable gear for the purposes specified.

4:. In a semaphore mechanism as described, in combination with the semaphore-signal including a swinging blade, a reversibly-rotatable shaft for actuating the said blade, a direct rotatable drive-gear, a shifting-gear on the rotatable shaft for coupling the said shaft with the direct rotatable drive-gear, an electric motor for actuating said drive-gear, a magneto-generator, conductors joining the latter with the electric motor, a pair of electromagnetic devices in electrical connection with the motor for setting the shifting-gear, a switch connecting with each of the said electromagnets and with the generator for shunting the current through either of the said electromagnets,for the purposes specified.

5. In a signaling actuating mechanism of the character described; the combination with a signal and a distant electric generator; of a signal actuating an alarm mechanism, comprising a reversibly rotatable drive shaft coupled with the signal, a reversing-gear mechanism for actuating the said shaft, an electric motor for actuating the drive-shaft, conductors from the distant generator connected to the motor, a current-switch in one of the said conductors, an alarm mechanism and an electro conductor therefor energized from the generator, circuit-closers in the alarm-circuit, and means controlled by the reversing motions of the drive-shaft for actuating the circuit-closers, at predetermined intervals, as set forth.

6. In a semaphore mechanism as described, the combination with a semaphore-signal including a swinging blade, a reversibly-rotating shaft for actuating the said blade, a pair of gears loosely mounted on said shaft, and having disk portions, a drive-gear for said loosely-mounted gears, a shaft for said drivegear, a ratchet-disk mounted on one end of said drive-gear shaft, and a magneto-motor having a pair of pawls for engaging said ratchet-disk to impart motion thereto in one direction, electromagnets for cooperating with said disk portions on said loosely-mounted gears on the reversibly-rotating semaphoreshaft to cause said gears to alternately engage said drive-gear, at predetermined times, for the purposes described.

B. OTTO WAGNER. Witnesses:

R. B. HOOVER, W. H. NILES. 

